Although not internationally known just yet, Playtime has become an institution in Edinburgh and, to a degree, in Scotland generally. Working under the strapline of Adventures in New Music, it began in April 2014 as a weekly live session where four of Scotland’s most-established jazz musicians – saxophonist Martin Kershaw, guitarist Graeme Stephen, bassist Mario Caribe and drummer Tom Bancroft – tried out new music and new ideas together.
They weren’t really a band to begin with, but they have become one. They’ve also paid tribute to all sorts of jazz composers and characters, from Duke Ellington to Bill Frisell, including quite a number of jazz pianists for a group that has no piano player. Some sessions have been completely spontaneous, although the accent has always been on approachability.
Various guests have joined the ‘core four’ on these Thursday sessions in the Outhouse in central Edinburgh, and during the pandemic this continued on Zoom. Morse Code Through the Lights documents some of these sessions, with guests including some of the top improvisers around. Cellist Ernst Reijseger was formerly part of the influential Clusone Trio. Piano-trumpet pairing Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura are long-term collaborators and prolific improvisers. From the UK, trumpeters Laura Jurd and Byron Wallen, saxophonists Denys Baptiste and Iain Ballamy, and vibraphonist Corey Mwamba all featured in sessions. The results are often remarkable.
The album encapsulates a variety of moods, from sombre bowed strings through eery trilling to jubilant fanfares. Much of it is moving, perhaps because of the strange time during which it was recorded. Bancroft and Caribe give whatever they do swing and drive, characteristics that help bring the listener along in some of the more challenging sections.
Interspersed with the music, the four members of Playtime explain their motivation, practice and method. Kershaw notes that, technically, they didn’t really know what they were doing, but it worked; Caribe says the weekly sessions became their highlight, and this comes through in the exuberance of some pieces.
Morse Code Through the Lights is a collection of highly accessible music, by turns thought-provoking, challenging and entertaining. If you like improvised music there’s much to enjoy, and if you think you don’t like improvised music, maybe it’ll change your mind!
Playtime continues on alternate Thursdays at the Outhouse. Some of their lockdown videos are still available to watch on Facebook. Following the success of these, Playtime received funding from Creative Scotland to livestream their regular gigs; although this funding has now finished, videos featuring these shows can be seen on YouTube.
Patrick Hadfield lives in Edinburgh, occasionally takes photographs, and sometimes blogs at On the Beat. He is @patrickhadfield@mastodon.scot on Mastodon.